Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 106312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
“Unruly?” I ask, my eyebrows shooting up.
“Yes. Not everyone is used to this lifestyle,” she chastises. If only she knew about my fiancée’s line of work. Then again, I’m certain she’s about to see how much my wife isn’t to be trifled with. “Albert, bring out two sweaters for them, please. Both of you at least remove your shirts so we can burn them.”
“We were just about to go to bed,” my father grumbles in complaint.
I type a few things into my phone and set up the widescreen TV just as Albert brings in the sweaters. I slip my shirt off, used to this treatment; however, Jewel seems hesitant. And I know she has nothing under the loose sweatshirt. I stand in front of her, backing her into a corner so I can block her enough so she can change. She’s quick to do so. I’m positive my mother does this mostly because she doesn’t want blood on the furniture.
My father is leaning against the wall with a glass of whiskey. Jewel moves to sit on the sofa beside my mother, but I pull her onto my lap, where I sit in an armchair, and hit play on my phone. The footage was recorded from my car’s front camera, giving the perfect angle for the business I dealt with.
“You threatened the legitimacy of my fiancée. I’ve come to show you that no one else is so perfectly matched for me. That, and she’s a good shot, so the next time you feel the need to come over and threaten her, I’ve given her permission to deal with it accordingly,” I say to my father.
Jewel’s eyes go wide as the footage begins to play. It starts with the casual chatter, and then all hell breaks loose, me laughing as I’m being dragged off by two men.
My mother is worriedly glancing over at me. Most likely because of the way I like to, as my father says, “play games.” He’s lectured me about this a time or two. I’d become better at refraining from instigating them, but tonight, I needed to torment my prey a little.
I stroke my thumb over Jewel’s leg as she stares at the screen, and she looks a shade paler. I wonder if she’s ever seen herself in action. The reality of how gruesome it is to take a life. Or to the lengths she would go to protect me. More importantly, how well we work as a team.
Just as I give her the signal, she smiles and then pulls out her gun. This is who she is, just as much as I am.
A hunter.
A killer.
Beautiful.
“Oh, you are good with guns,” Mother says, mesmerized. That’s when Jewel looks at my parents. Where she might’ve thought there would be judgment, all she sees is approval. Not that anyone could ever tell by my father’s expression, but there’s definitely a hint of respect there.
“Do you think you should threaten the same woman who chooses to use her gun to save me rather than take an easy shot to take me out? Does that disprove your previous thoughts?” I direct the questions to my father.
Jewel tenses up, and I weave my fingers between hers, knowing why because I’m burying us deeper into our lie.
But a fabricated truth is what will get her down the aisle, and from there, I’ll figure out a way to make her stay. The last thing I need is my father looking into my affairs and doubting my abilities right before he hands me the last of the business.
“Apologize right now, Crue,” my mother demands.
No one can make my father apologize but my mother. And he usually won’t unless it’s to her.
The hint of a smirk touches his lips. “She’s a very good shot. But you’re as reckless as ever. What happened to Hawke and Ford following you everywhere?”
“Crue!” My mother jumps to her feet, furious.
He raises his hand, signaling her to let him continue. “I’ll apologize for threatening you, Jewel,” he says sincerely. “But you, my son, need to stop being so reckless and going into these situations on your own. It only takes one time to have yourself killed.”
“I’m not a child,” I snap. “How many times have you ‘dealt’ with things on your own? How many times did you return bleeding and have Mom worried? I don’t need this lecture from you! And besides, I wasn’t alone; Jewel was with me.”
My father’s jaw goes tight. “I will always protect this family and our name, but I won’t do anything crazy just to make a point.”
That’s a fucking lie. I’ve heard stories of how he used to act in the early days after taking over New York. I’m certain he and I probably aren’t so different in our way of thinking. But he’s pushing me, and I don’t fucking like it.